10 Tips for Losing Weight

I wrote some notes to myself years ago, which were basically geared to the average individual wanting to lose that last 5 to 10 lbs.

At that time, and this was quite a while back, I was an omnivore trying to go vegetarian, so these notes apply to that time. Also, I was probably following a more Macrobiotic Diet as well.

10 Tips for Losing Weight

1. Keep Moving. This is a given, although many people do exercise, they don’t realize (and I needed to be reminded of this, as well) that diet and exercise goes hand-in-hand. Meaning, you need both, and you can’t have one without the other. You can exercise all you want but if you don’t follow the next 9 tips and eat/drink a proper diet, then exercise cancels itself out.

2. Drink Lots of Water. Everyone should already know that the human body is made up of approximately 70% water, so it makes perfect sense to drink lots of it to replenish AND bring in fresh water into the body to aid in the body’s cellular processes.

3. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables. The logic here is that fruits and vegetables contain more natural nutrients that the body needs, and less calories. And, fruits and vegetables have a high water content as well. And you get a much needed dose of fiber which aids in digestion.

4. Eat More Fish. This follows a more Macrobiotic approach, but compared to other animal foods, fish is a very leaner option and contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

5. Eat Less Beef, Pork and Chicken. Saturated Fat is a killer when it’s overused in the diet. And doctors and nutritionists always give out these charts to people who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and have heart disease in the family. And these charts always tell you to eat less beef, pork and chicken (unless you eat chicken breasts). A good motivation to go on a vegetarian diet, and at least more reasons to follow Tip No. 4.

6. Eat Less Sugar and Salt. We all know that White Sugar and Table Salt are the culprits that contribute to chronic diseases such as Heart Disease and Diabetes. So, most of us need to cut down on the salt and sugar. And, if you just have to have your salt and sugar, then try going for the raw brown sugar and the raw celtic sea salt, which are healthier alternatives.

7. Avoid Fried Foods. Ideally, it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid fried foods whenever you can, as they are fried in oil or lard and usually translates to fat stored in the body. If anything, reserve eating fried foods for special occasions and don’t eat fried foods on a daily basis.

8. Avoid Junk Foods. This would basically include all foods that have been processed, since we already know that fast foods are typically convenient junk foods. So, this would include your potato chips, greasy fries, candies, etc. The opposite of this would be to eat whole foods that are organic, and if you eat chicken or beef make sure its free-range, grass fed, organic, etc.

9. Avoid Mayonaise-based Salad Dressings. It’s healthy to eat salads that contain lots of fresh raw veggies, but many people drown their salads in mayonaise or cream-based salad dressings. Try lighter, healthier alternatives like miso salad dressing, a light vinaigrette dressing or just oil and vinegar.

10. Chew Your Food Slowly and Thoroughly. We live in a fast-paced society, so it’s just to easy to scarf down or bolt your food down because you are in a hurry. So, try mindful eating and slowly chew your food several times before swallowing it. This helps mix your saliva with your foods which actually aids in proper digestion. Some advocates claim that chewing your food 50 times is the ideal. And while I personally think that may be excessive, it illustrates a good point. So, try chewing your food slowly and thoroughly. This habit alone could be a good factor in helping you loss weight.